Cowboys axe halfback to take chance on gun teen
Mackay product Purdue will start at five-eighth against Manly on Saturday night in place of Clifford, who missed two shots at a game-winning field goal in the 30-30 draw with Penrith last weekend.
Purdue, 19, has been a revelation in the centres for the Cowboys this season, but played in the halves as a junior.
He could remain there for another week if co-captain Tom Dearden is selected for Queensland in the State of Origin series opener on May 28.
Purdue's promotion means Dearden shifts to halfback and Zac Laybutt comes into the outside backs for his first game of the season.
Clifford has been solid this year after impressing on return to the first-grade side late last season, but lines up as replacement player.
Out-of-sorts Brisbane have made a halves change of their own, recalling Ezra Mam for his first game of the year in place of the injured Ben Hunt.
Mam, who served a nine-game ban for drug-driving, made his return to the field through reserve grade last week and will partner Adam Reynolds against St George Illawarra.
Elsewhere, incumbent NSW winger Zac Lomax will have one last chance to push his Origin case provided he can clear a final fitness test for Parramatta's trip to Newcastle.
The clash would be the gun recruit's first alongside Eels halfback Mitch Moses, who missed the start of the season with his own foot issue.
A knee injury to Greg Marzhew has left the Knights to name debutant Fletcher Hunt on the wing as they look to recover from a demoralising loss to Gold Coast.
Kieran Foran is in line to play his first game of the season, with the Titans naming their veteran playmaker to return from a biceps injury against Canberra.
Alex Johnston will resume his push for the all-time try-scoring record when he returns from a hamstring injury for South Sydney's clash with Wests Tigers.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall resisted the urge to make mass changes after his side's humiliating 64-0 loss to Melbourne.
But Fonua Pole's knee injury has forced a reshuffle that leaves Tallyn Da Silva in the reserves.
Storm hooker Harry Grant is listed in the reserves, so may have one last chance to return from a hamstring injury and push his Origin case against Cronulla.
James Fisher-Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have both been named to return for the Warriors in their clash against the Dolphins.
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16 hours ago
- The Age
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Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘No one thought we could do it': How a trip to the pub helped the Vixens win a grand final for the ages
That's precisely what the team did – heading to a local pub a few weeks later for a team bonding session. 'It's a comment that Simone said over the years plenty of times, and it's not necessarily about going to the pub,' Moloney explained in a post-match interview after the grand final. 'But we knew exactly what that meant, and we did go and do a team bonding session. We headed to the pub, we had our Coke zeros and watched the State of Origin. 'You know, it wasn't about the pub, but it was about spending some time together – remembering why we do this.' The Vixens' season then underwent an extraordinary metamorphosis, with the Melbourne side winning eight of their next 10 games to reach back-to-back grand finals. The Vixens opened Saturday's grand final on the front foot, with Moloney delivering a flawless centre pass, allowing star goal shooter Sophie Garbin to net the opening goal. The Fever countered quickly, recovering the ball in their front third and delivering quickly to Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, the competition's most dominant force and its best shooter. Both teams upped the tempo in the second quarter, with the Vixens calling a timeout and captain Kate Moloney calling on the team to put their opponents under pressure. The third quarter saw the Vixens pull in front, much to the delight of the roaring Rod Laver Arena crowd. Play intensified in the fourth, with the Vixens managing to pull ahead. Frustration in the Fever team saw them fumble some crucial passes as the clock ticked down and pressure intensified. Loading But they continued to target Fowler-Nembhard, and she continued to loom as the heartbreaker for the Vixens until the home side regained their composure in the dying minutes and held on to possession for dear life. At the final whistle there were smiles, tears and cheers as the Vixens rushed from all corners to embrace each other as I gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas blared out across the stadium. It was redemption for the Vixens, who lost last year's decider to Adelaide by two goals and were beaten by the Fever twice during the 2025 season. It was also fairytale finish for McKinnis, who leaves behind a legacy of three premierships and three minor premierships. After the game, McKinnis said she couldn't quite believe the team had won. 'I still can't believe that we did it, but I'm just extremely proud of the team and the girls – the way they attacked the game and the way they played,' she explained. McKinnis never lost faith in her group. 'I thought we were the one team that could beat them,' she said of the Fever, who finished on top of the ladder with a 12-2 record and had a 13-game winning streak. The veteran coach said she was looking forward to having a break, but did not rule out a return to coaching. Loading During the awards presentation, Moloney thanked the fans 'for not giving up on us in round six' and expressed her gratitude to her McKinnis. 'You are an incredible leader. This club would not be the same without you,' Moloney said. 'When you walked in the doors 13 years ago, you taught us how hard we had to work, you showed us some tough love, but most importantly you cared for us, you believed in us, and you nurtured every single athlete that walked through those doors, and you made them better.' By contrast, Fever skipper Jess Anstiss was heartbroken after her side's loss. 'It's pure devastation to be honest,' she said. 'It's hard to get the words out. 'I don't think we brought our A-game and Vixens did.' It was Melbourne's first Super Netball title in five years – since they defeated the Fever in 2020. Just last week, the Vixens only advanced to this season's decider after overcoming a double-digit three-quarter-time deficit in the preliminary final against a red-hot NSW Swifts.
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Dragons defy wind and rain to topple ladder-leading Raiders
The Dragons deserved the two points, especially after falling short against North Queensland last weekend, and getting dudded in the final minute against Canterbury prior to that. Coach Shane Flanagan nearly put a hole through the glass separating the coaching and media box when the Raiders were given a repeat set in the final minute while camped on the Red V's line – but in the end he had nothing to worry about. Kyle Flanagan's kicking game was terrific, especially a sideline conversion from the south-eastern corner that was directly into the wind. The conditions were so bad, club officials had to close the hill before kick-off for safety reasons because of lightning, rain and wind. The empty grass evoked memories of the competition when it was played behind closed doors during COVID in 2020. The Dragons will still need a miracle to make the eight, but the two points moves them clear of the pack of teams still slugging it out for the wooden spoon. They don't deserve the dreaded gong when you consider how many of their losses have been by six points or less. Loading Raiders forward Hudson Young was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Hame Sele – the contact was minimal – while David Klemmer was also cited for a tackle on Ata Mariota, which forced the prop off the field for a head injury assessment. Feagai opened the scoring for the Dragons, Matt Timoko hit back for the visitors, before the Dragons slotted a couple of penalty goals on offer, including one for a late Joe Tapine hit on Kyle Flanagan. The Dragons will be up for their local derby against Cronulla next week. The Raiders are still knee-deep in this title race, and the quicker they can forget the trip to Wollongong, the better. Stuart will try to ignore it, a bit like he tried to do with the miserable weather on the sideline.
